A/N: Yes I can decided to continue this fic. I had to retcon a couple of things. So you will see a few minor changes. Enjoy!
A few hours ago they were burying one of their own and now, they were preparing to investigate his death. Finding Nightwing's killer would not only ensure justice was served but would also be cathartic for those who remained. In their own way, all three grieved the brother they had taken for granted for so long. Like Batman Nightwing was supposed to fly forever. Despite the promise they all had made to not kill, the idea of breathing the vow had crossed their mind minds at least once during the course of the day. Even Tim, who never took a life before, felt the primal urge to crush the life out the murdering bastard who had taken their brother away from them…Taking down his murderer after the fact would have to the next best thing.
All three boys kept a spare costume in the Batcave, even Jason. During the past couple of days and during the funeral, none of them bothered coming down here. None of them had the courage to look at the memorial that Bruce and Alfred had created in honor of their dead. They had failed him and to look on that black and royal blue costume would be like a stab through the heart, but the time had come to face their demon. So, when they arrived in the cave, all stopped to pay tribute to Dick, each in their own way. And as they passed the glass case, each took a turn sliding fingers across the glass on their way to the changing room.
Jason made his way to his locker and pulled out his costume, he even kept an extra brown leather jacket down here, he liked used his regular one better, it was nice and broken it, but he didn't want to venture upstairs and have to face Bruce, none of them did. They may have lost a brother, but he lost his son. Not caring Jason stripped down to his boxers right there and changed, while Tim and Damian opted for the changing rooms. While he waited Jason looked at the locker to his left, it was left slightly ajar. He opened it more, the only things left inside the locker was a poster from Haly's Circus featuring Dick and his parents as The Flying Graysons, and a picture of all four of them all in full costume, for once not fighting, for once they stood together as brothers. Jason could feel a tingling in his nose and his eyes stung. He rubbed at them vigorously. It was no time to get maudlin. He took the picture of the four of them down and put it in his own locker, then he slowly closed the locker the remainder of the way and spun the combination lock that was mounted on it.
Each of the boys mounted their bikes and followed Robin to Bludhaven. It was a quiet ride to Gotham's sister city. They all knew the way to Dick's home city. Each one of them had spent time sleeping on Dick's couch, even Jason and Tim who now had their own places in Gotham. His place was a nice get away when they needed it. Damian would take Dick up on the no questions asked offer to sleep over when ever needed, he did it so often that Dick gave the teen a key so he would stop entering through the window.
"Spread out," Red Robin instructed.
"Who put you in charge?" Robin demanded his eyes fixed on the dumpster.
"He has the most level head," Red Hood stated, "I am going to canvas the street, Robin you will canvas high."
"*Tt*, fine," Damian crossed his arms.
"We need to find his mask and escrima sticks. That will give us a clue as to where the main fight took place." Red Robin explained. "Hood, don't stray more than a few blocks, even Nightwing can't have stayed airborne with the injuries he sustained. Robin head in the direction of his apartment, that is most likely where he would have started his patrol. I am going to stay here and gather evidence. We will not engage in any fights unless absolutely necessary, no killing," Tim looked at both Jason and Damian.
"I vowed Father I would not, I still honor that." Damian spoke evenly, he made the same promise to Nightwing, that was his real reason behind keeping the promise.
"I'm not making any promises," Jason commented inserting a clip of real bullets into his gun rather the the rubber ones he typically used to appease Bruce and his no guns rule.
"This is no time for vendettas," Red Robin said strictly.
"Batman never took out the Joker, I am not allowing Nightwing's killer to stay alive." Red Hood turned his back and went to his motorcycle.
"Just keep your comm on!" Red Robin called after him knowing there was no stopping Jason. Then he turned to his other teammate "Robin…"
"Don't worry about me Drake, I can handle this. Nightwing was lying there when we found him," pointing to the dumpster that he was staring at, "there was trail of blood coming from the north." He aimed his grappling gun and disappeared into the night sky.
Red Robin knelt down next to dumpster. Dick was killed on Tuesday today was Friday and the trash was over flowing, leading Tim to believe that the trash was emptied on Mondays. If who ever killed Nightwing attempted to ditch any evidence it would be near the bottom of the dumpster. Tim took samples of the blood that stained the dumpster, he had a good guess that it belonged to Dick, but he wanted to be thorough he slowly walked down the alley and then turned north. At this point in the fight Nightwing was on the ground. Tim gazed north and though about various situations that Dick could have gotten himself into, but he was pulled from his thoughts when a voice spoke to him via the comm link.
"I've got something," Jason's voice came, there was no jab or snarky tone in his voice, meaning this was serious, "it's Nightwing's weapon…well one of them."
"I'm coming to your location," Red Robin replied, "Robin you have anything?"
"Negative, I will meet you there as well."
When Tim arrived Jason was kneeling on one knee, his left hand arm propped on the knee of the same side, his signature red helmet sat on his right side. Red Hood held the broken escrima in his right hand.
Red Robin knelt down next to Red Hood and took the weapon in his hand, "five blocks," Tim mused. "He made his way five blocks…at this point in the fight his mask was missing and he was down a weapon."
"Red Robin, Hood, you two might want to come up here," Robin called.
Red Hood and Red Robin both turned around to see Damian standing on the roof. Tim gently placed the broken weapon in his utility belt and then followed Jason to meet with Robin.
The roof was heavily damaged and despite the rain there was still some blood stains.
"This way," Damian moved quickly. He went a short distance before stopping short, "There." he pointed to the all too remnants of the familiar domino mask Nightwing wore. It was broken in several pieces and scattered in the area, the left lens was cracked and the right lens was missing all together.
Damian knelt down and started to piece together the mask. Tim placed a hand on Robin's shoulder. The younger boy looked briefly up, to see the older teen holding a bag to put the mask in.
"Thanks…"
Red Robin knelt down not too far from Robin to start taking blood samples, while Red Hood went off to to canvas the rest of the rooftop.
"I can't find his other escrima stick," Red Hood said coming over to the two younger boys, "I recorded everything, when you are done taking samples here I have another place for you to check."
Tim stood up and marked the vial he placed the sample in, "I've finished here, show we me where."
Jason lead the way to air conditioning unit, when Tim saw it the most notable thing was a large dent.
"I know I'm not the detective you are, but I'd say that's a Dick sized dent."
Tim didn't comment at first, he only look a scans of the dented metal, "Jason, would you be willing don the black and blue for a night?"
"Drake what are you talking about?" Robin asked.
"Me being Nightwing, It's not like I haven't done it before," Jason shrugged.
"What are you speaking about?" the teen demanded.
"Whoa, slow down there Demon," Red Hood patted Robin's head, this gesture only annoyed him even more. "Back when Dick was covering for Bats, I spend some nights here in Bludhaven as Nightwing."
"I will not allow it!" Damian curled his hands into fists, looking as if he would take Jason down.
"It's not your choice, we can't have Nightwing disappearing at the same time as Dick Grayson. Bruce would agree with this." Red Robin said calmly, before Jason could interject and make matters worse. "Why won't you allow it anyway? This is a chance to draw out the killer, he can't think he had succeeded."
"Because I am the next Nightwing you idiots."
Red Hood and Red Robin exchanged glances, this was new information to them. Dick never spoke of anyone taking the mantle after him, mostly because there was no one, they never thought about Damian taking the mantle.
"What? Said who?" Jason asked in a less than tactful tone.
"Never mind, do as you please," Robin snapped turning around.
Tim narrowed his eyes at Red Hood before racing after Damian. "Robin, come back here, what are you talking about?" He reached the younger teen and placed a hand on his shoulder. The reaction of the trained assassin was to turn around and cock a fist. "Whoa, it's just me, Da-Robin, tell me what are you talking about?"
"It's none of your damn business and the mantle of Nightwing is not your title to give away."
"Listen punk," Jason snapped, "I don't give a damn about what you think if it will help us—"
"Grayson…" Damian said abruptly, his voice trembled slightly, "he told me…" He could not maintain eye contact with either of his older brothers, he felt himself falling apart again, he couldn't show them that he was weak.
"What are you talking about? When did he say this?" Tim kept his voice calm, he knew better than to anger Damian when he was willing (even if it was slightly) giving up information.
"That night…father gave me a letter Grayson wrote. In the letter he told me, that he wanted me to be the next Nightwing." Damian spoke to his signature green combat boots with red laces rather than his brothers.
Red Hood was about to talk, but Tim thought it best he didn't so he gestured for him to remain quiet. He placed his hand back on Robin's shoulder, this time the boy allowed it to remain. "is that why you don't want Jason to take over?"
"Yes," the boy replied simply, finally looking up meeting Tim's gentle smile, but he had to turn away. Red Robin's black cowl and smile reminded Damian of when Dick was under the Batman cowl and always smiling.
"Listen kid," Red Hood said frustrated, his tone of voice caused Robin to force Tim's hand from his shoulder and start walking away. "I said listen!" he followed Damian and took the younger boy by the shoulder and turned him around, "I don't want to be Nightwing. I need to be to draw out his killer."
"Whatever, do as you please," Damian huffed and broke free Red Hood's grip, "I'm going home. I have Nightwing's mask." He continued his way and jumped from the roof.
Tim looked at Damian go, the young boy kept so much it, he was taught to conceal his emotions from a young age, but from experience Tim learned it was never good. When he finally revealed to the Teen Titans that his father died, he felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. It was clear Damian wanted to express his feelings but he didn't know how.
When Damian got back to the manor he went up to his rooms with Nightwing's mask. He gently placed the mask on his wooden desk, turning on the desk lamp, but not the main light to the room. He took his uniform off, replacing them with a pair pajamas the shirt was a Gotham Knights baseball shirt that belonged to Dick when he was about Damian's age and a pair of gray sweatpants. He forwent slippers or socks, he hated wearing shoes when he didn't have to.
Once he was changed he sat down in the wheeled desk chair, he leaned to his right and pulled open he bottom down and started to dig around until he could find glue, it was glue that was used for assembling small models, and it would work for putting the mask back together. It did not take long for the teen to piece the mask back together. Once that task was complete he pulled open the top draw to the desk, in here was the letter from Dick, a copy of the picture he placed with Dick in his casket.
He heard footsteps so he turned the light off and dove into his bed. There was light knock on the door, but he didn't reply. Damian kept one eye on the door as it was opened, it was Tim of all people.
"I know your not sleeping," he said in a soft voice, he leaned against the door frame crossing his arms against his chest.
"*Tt*," Damian scoffed, "great detective work, Drake. Now go away." He refused to looked at Tim.
"I know the fact that Dick bequeathing the mantle of Nightwing to you means a great to you, as it should. If you don't want Jason to be Nightwing, we understand. We didn't know that Dick gave you the title, I'm sorry if we offended you. I'll let you get back to sleep," he pushed himself off the door frame. "If you ever want to talk, I'm here."
Damian didn't reply, he only watched as Tim shut the door behind him, and listened to him walk down the hall. Damian got out of bed and made his way back to his desk, he held the mask in front of his face. His as Robin was green and just covered around his eyes. Nightwing's was black and was stylized on the end, with the ends going down the jaw and up the temple.
He was heir to Batman, and destined to be the next Ra's Al Ghul, and now he was asked to be Nightwing. The biggest difference about being the next Nightwing was it was not his birth right. Grayson made the continuous choice to pick him.
Bruce sat in front of the computer in the Batcave going over the video feed and scans the boys retrieved. They didn't inform him that they went out looking for Dick's murder until after Tim uploaded everything to the computer the next day. Even with the top notch scans they took and the very detailed notes left by Red Robin, Bruce still wanted to see everything for himself.
"Master Bruce, you should really eat sir. I know this week has been draining, but you mustn't neglect your body's basic needs." Alfred spoke in his typical calming voice. He placed a tray down and removed the cloche to reveal a bowl of bowl of Bruce's favorite dish, French onion soup, in hopes of temping the grieving man to eat.
The corners of Bruce's mouth twitched up. "Thank you Alfred." The billionaire sighed, "this was the first thing you made me to eat after my parents died..."
"I do seem to recall this," Alfred gave a smile to the bittersweet memory.
"And it's the first meal you gave Dick when he first arrived here at the manor."
"I also recall this." The butler nodded, remembering Dick at eight sitting alone at the vast table. He placed the bowl in front of the boy, patted him on the shoulder and informed him on why he made this particular dish.
"Although this was not the first dish you made for Jason or Tim when they first came to live with us." Bruce used the spoon to break the layer of gruyere cheese and French bread that topped the savory brown liquid.
"Once again you are right. Master Jason at the time didn't have as refined of a palette as the rest of the manor, I made him a simple sandwich with homemade chips. Master Timothy detests onions, for him I made shepherds pie. I had gotten to know both boys before they had move in. I took a chance that Master Richard would enjoy your favorite dish, he did, and it is—was," Alfred's voice hitched as he changed the word to the past tense. He exhaled heavily before changing to the youngest boy's favorite dish.
Master Damian I made him a chicken curry, but now that he had become vegetarian I made him a meat free version today."
"You've been busy," Bruce commented.
"I have. You know what they say about idol hands," Alfred mused.
"I know that very well. Thank you again, old friend."
"Any time sir." the old butler bowed his head and turned to head upstairs to bring Damian his dinner.
While Bruce was grateful that Alfred made him his favorite dish, he found he could not finish eating it, this is the same thing that happened after his parents died. Bruce stood up and went over to the glass case that held Dick's Nightwing costume, he placed his hand on the glass, and closed his eyes.
"You're fired."
"What? Bruce what are you talking about?"
"You disobeyed me, I am relinquishing you from the position of Robin."
"Robin is mine!"
"Robin is only around because I allowed it!"
The look in his eyes, he hadn't seen that look since the say he first meet Dick. The cerulean blue eyes, quickly hardened. "Fine. I understand!" he took Dick mask off and threw it at his feet.
"When I fired you from being Robin, we became estranged for nearly three months after that. Our relationship was never the same, yet when the time came you took over for me. I never told you how proud I was of you when I first saw you wearing the Batman costume. I was always proud of you, you never failed me, it was I who have failed you. I'm sorry Dick." Bruce looked at the mask in the glass case and gave it a nod before going to get changed. It was time to go back to Bludhaven.
Tim was sitting at the computer in the Batcave, his right elbow was resting on the table, with his head resting in his hand. He was looking over everything again. He knew Bruce was out there now looking over the same rooftop he was looking at. Tim sighed, nothing was coming back on the DNA samples, so Tim started to examine it more, he wanted to know if the DNA was altered. He went as far as to looking at the post-mortem pictures that were taken.
"How can you stand to look at those?" Jason's voice came appearing in the Cave.
"I don't look at his face," Tim said simply not turning away from the photos.
"This is unbelievable, he can't be dead. Not Dickiebird" Jason took a bite of an apple be brought down with him.
"He is Jaybird, and there is nothing we can do about it…" Tim said bitterly.
"No Drake, there is nothing Father can do about it, but there is something we can. Father has kept saying Richard didn't want to be brought back to life. I do not recall him make any request, do either of you?" Damian was dressed in full Robin gear with his arms folded on his chest.
"Nope," Jason said casually popping the p before going back to eating the apple in his hand.
"You're not suggesting that we…" Tim finally looked away from the computer screen and turned around.
"Wait!" Jason said sharply thinking about Robin said.
"Use my grandfather's Lazarus Pit." Damian smiled, it looked sadistic and creepy as the young teen never smiled.
"I don't know about that," Red Hood said his face becoming serious. "It's a rough road coming back from that, even someone like the Golden Boy."
"I know what you speak of, I have seen my grandfather use it. I have faith that Grayson can handle it better than you Todd."
"I know that Demon. What I was trying to get at it won't be easy, especially if Bruce isn't on board. It took me several months to not be a mindless raging psychopath."
"How is that different from how you are now?" Tim said without missing a beat, he gave a coy smile.
"Shut up Tim!" Jason snapped, "I'm being serious."
"*Tt* I didn't come here to ask for your permission to do this, I am simply stating a fact, I am bring Grayson back. He can remain in the cell that typically holds my Grandfather. I cannot fathom why you the both are against me on this one."
"It's not that were against you, it's just he told B he didn't want this. We need to honor his wishes." Tim said trying to reason with Damian.
"Damn his wishes! This is Richard, our brother. We are bringing him back to life now grab a damn shovel and follow me!"
Tim and Jason exchanged glances. Both wanted their brother back as much as Damian, but was this really the right choice? Dick would not comeback the same easy going carefree person they were used to, not at first. Dick saw what happened with Jason first hand, granted Jason had already come down from his resurrection at that point, but he still harbored more anger than before.
Jason exhaled heavily, "I didn't have anyone who cared about me when I was resurrected. Maybe that will be the difference for Dick."
"We know if we don't go along with him he will do it anyway," Tim said.
"Bruce can't know. Timmy, even for Dickface it will take him a long time to come down, he will be strong. The little brat can't do this alone."
"Are you suggesting we go through with this?"
"Yeah, I am. Let's go bring our brother home." Jason hit Tim on the shoulder as he walked past him to go change into his Red Hood costume.
Tim stood there a moment conflicted, he wanted his brother back, but he also wanted to follow the young man's wishes and not bring him back because they were selfish. "Someone had to drive the Batplane," Tim joined Jason in the locker area.
"Oh what makes you think you're driving?" the older of the two smiled, happy to see Tim joining them.
The last time Batman stood in the dark alley in the slums of Bludhaven, he was holding the dead body of his son in his arms.
That night would forever be engraved in his mind. Nightwing lying in a puddle of blood and dirty water. He knelt down in the spot where Dick has taken his last breath and ran his hand over the dent in the dumpster. He knew that the damage hand't contributed to the hero's death; it was simply the place Nightwing dragged himself before death found him. He also knew that the blood samples Tim had gathered the previous evening had belonged to Dick alone.
Batman was scanning the surrounding area yet again when he noticed a familiar shape tucked in behind the heavy trash container. Moving the dumpster, Batman knelt down, and picked up an escrima stick, his son's preferred weapon. On it, there were three bloody letters scratched into it, likely with a piece of broken glass that littered the area; B.Y.E.
Tucking the escrima stick into his belt, the Dark Knight journeyed the five blocks the weapon's owner had traversed, injured and bloody, to the rooftop where Nightwing fought his last battle. So many times Batman had investigated murders in Gotham City, but none of them struck him as hard as this one, not since the murder of his parents in another darkened alley so long ago. When Joker killed Jason, Batman knew all there was to about the crime, every fact etched in his mind, but he has still managed to fail the boy, even if he had only just managed to retain his vow and his sanity. After Jason's resurrection, his son's first words to him had cut him to the quick. "I forgive you for not saving me, but why the hell is he still alive?" Jason asked bitterly. Little did the young man know this was a question that Bruce asked himself every time he had faced the cursed clown since the day he pulled Robin's broken from the rubble.
Batman stood in the center of that rooftop and asked himself another question. After losing so much, how the hell would he be able to keep that damned vow when he finally confronted Nightwing's murderer? And he would…Nothing would stand in his way. Dick's killer would be fed his justice through a straw, and it would taste a lot like leather-covered knuckles and flavored with his own blood.
As Batman looked down at the alley directly below, he reviewed in his mind's eye the picture of Nightwing's second escrima stick as it appeared in Tim's cowl camera. At this juncture, Dick had lost his mask and one of his weapons had been broken. But that still left Nightwing with one. Testing a theory, Batman pulls the newly-found escrima stick from his belt and pressed the button that triggered the electric stun feature. Nothing happened. Something has shorted out the circuitry at some point. He scanned the rooftop, searching for clues Red Robin might have missed that night. Tim discovered DNA during that first search that didn't match Dick's. It had to belong to the killer but, so far, the computer had drawn a blank on the identity of its owner.
There had to be more clues, Batman started to slowly walk around the roof top. Dick's killer had to had to have left something behind that could solve the murder of his son.
This attack appeared to be rage induced, that became evident after analyzing the footprint Red Robin found. The size and depth of the food print revealed to the great Detective that Nightwing's killer was heavy, and therefore strong. His strength was based off Dick's injuries and the damage caused.
When Jason and Tim arrived at their brother's grave Damian was already at work digging it up.
"*Tt* You finally decided to join me I see," Robin said pausing for a moment going back to digging.
"Have you thought about scrubbing the footage of us you know digging up Dick's grave? Even being in the Cave tonight. If we don't want to tell Bruce what's going on we can't leave behind any clues as to what we are doing."
"That's why we have you. Now start digging." Damian snapped. "Todd you're here because we need your strength, if we are do this alone it will be difficult. When my Grandfather is resurrected it take six men or more to restrain him. I predict that even when his mind his not his own Grayson's acrobatic skill still make come through."
"Once we get on the plane I will work on removing any evidence of what we have done tonight." Tim said.
Not one of the three brothers spoke while the removed the soil from the grave of their eldest brother. It was a surreal moment, they were really doing this, they were going to bring their brother back.
Jason was the first one to reach the glossy black coffin with the royal blue stripe. He rubbed dirt off with a shaky hand, revealing the words etched into it:
Richard "Dick" John Grayson-Wayne
March 20th 1991 - May 16th 2017
Beloved son, brother, and friend
Forever Flying High
The three brother continued to clean the dirt off the coffin of their older brother. Tim opened the coffin revealing Dick's cold, waxy, pale dead body. He didn't look life himself, he looked like a fake doll that was supposed to him. He was laying in royal blue satin in a perfectly tailored suit with a black shirt and tie that matched his signature color, his arms were crossed on his chest.
Damian looked down at the body of the young man who was his first Batman and gasped for air and started to cough and gag, he covered his mouth. His green eyes were wide, he found he could no longer look at Dick anymore, he turned his back and climbed from the grave and knelt down in attempts not to vomit. He had seen dead bodies before, he had seen Grayson's dead body, he heard his head in his lap as his father drove Nightwing home. Then why was he reacting like this.
Jason looked to Tim and jerked his head to Damian while he took the white sheet he had and opened it up to wrap the body in. Red Robin nodded and climbed out to see Robin trying to compose himself while sitting on his knees.
"Damian?" Tim spoked softly, making sure to announce himself reaching out to the thirteen-year-old to place a hand on his shoulder.
"What's happening to me? I have smelt rotting bodies, seen my grandfather in a state like this…"
Tim wasn't sure if he was talking to him, or questing himself because he believed this action of grief was a moment of weakness.
"It's going to be okay—"
"I know that, fool." Damian huffed scrubbing his eyes with the back of his green-leather covered hand.
Tim sighed inwardly, the trained assassin was hard to get through to, it was amazing that Dick even managed this feat. "Stay here with Jason. I am going to get the plane."
Jason carefully wrapped Nightwing's body in the white sheet. He scoffed a little, he was being so careful with his brother's dead body, showing respect, something he doubted Joker showed his body when he was dug from this gave. His feelings were mixed about bringing Dick to the Lazarus Pit. In his personal experience it took several months for him to come down from the affects of being resurrected, the same could be true for Dick. Although his brother will have something he didn't have, support.
When Jason brought Dick's body out of the hole he saw Damian sitting on the ground his left leg was bent inwards laying on the ground while his right leg was propped up with his right arm resting on it. "We need to fill his grave."
"Oh and here I thought we would leave it open so Bruce knows what we are doing."
"*Tt*" Damian rolled his eyes and jumped to his, as he passed Jason and Dick he placed a hand on Dick's head. "Jerk," he spat at Jason.
Red Hood carefully laid his eldest brother down so that the process of filling the grave could start.
Batman meticulously combed the rooftop for clue he was currently sifting through some sand and stones of various shades of black, ecru, and gray. Something looked off, this stone looked of purer white and it was stained with red. A tooth, canine, it would be noticeable if it was missing. Dick's killer must have gone to a dentist to provide him with an implant. Large man with missing canine. After finding no more clues, Bruce settled for having the tooth, he made his way back to the Cave to continue his investigation.
A/N: Okay...so what did you guys all think? Glad I'm back with this? Just incase you didn't pick up on it here are the changes: Bruce only told the heroes about Dick's death and Dick is buried in the cemetery on the grounds of Wayne manor.
I am go grateful for the feed back I got from the last chapter. I gave me the encouragement to continue on with this fic. So from the bottom of my heart thanks for everyone who had reviewed, faved, and followed this fic so far. I look forward to hearing from everyone on this chapter as well.
So my question you is: do you think Bruce will catch them?
